Saw Palmetto Extract Ameliorates Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia by Regulating 5α-Reductase and Apoptosis In Vitro and In Vivo.

OBJECTIVES

The therapeutic effect of saw palmetto extract (SPE) in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has been evaluated in clinical trials. However, the molecular mechanisms of SPE in BPH development are not fully understood.

METHODS

LNCap cell line treated with dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and SD rats induced with testosterone were used, respectively. TUNEL and Muse Cell Analyzer for apoptosis and CCK8 assay for cell viability were performed to investigate the effects of SPE against BPH. Histological changes were examined by HE staining. Protein expression was analyzed for AR, PSA, SRC-1, and 5AR2 by Western blot, and the levels of DHT and testosterone in rat serum were quantified by ELISA.

RESULTS

SPE treatment could accelerate the apoptosis of cells and decrease the expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-18. TUNEL staining revealed an increase in positive staining after SPE treatment. Rats treated with SPE exhibited a reduction in prostate weight. SPE treatment led to a decrease in serum DHT and testosterone levels. SPE treatment significantly reduced the protein levels of AR, PSA, SRC-1, and 5AR2 in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

SPE possesses anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects by inhibiting 5α-reductase and DHT expression in vitro and in vivo, thereby mitigating the progression of BPH.